Pages

Thursday

If a mare is a female horse (or other equid), then what is a broodmare?

A broodmare, quite simply, is a mare that is used for breeding. A broodmare most often is kept exclusively
for the purpose of producing equine offspring (foals), although some broodmares
may also be ridden.

Broodmares may require special care and feeding, with
additional veterinary visits scheduled for pregnancy checks and monitoring and with
customized nutritional programs. Often, a mare that previously was shod will go
without shoes, once she becomes a broodmare and is devoted primarily to
breeding.

The gestation period for an equine is approximately 11
months, so many successful broodmares are re-bred (in heat) within a month or
two after foaling, if all goes according to plan. Because an equine foal is usually not weaned for
several months after birth, the broodmare may be rebred while still having a
baby at her side.

Top broodmares are generally valued for their proficiency at
carrying healthy foals to term and transmitting excellent pedigrees,
athleticism, and conformation to their offspring.

Wednesday

The bucking bronco is a popular rough-riding rodeo attraction.
What is a bronco? The word “bronco” is actually a Spanish word for rough. In
English, a bronco is a challenging horse that is difficult to ride and tends to
buck while ridden under saddle or bareback.

Basically, a bronco is a horse that is inexperienced in
carrying a rider, unwilling to do so, or simply difficult to ride. The bronco, or bronc, may be a
feral or green horse, or it may be an unruly, intractable equine that persists
in bucking riders off.

Bucking broncos are commonly seen in rodeos, showing up in
bareback bronc and saddle bronc events. Bronc riders are timed and judged to earn
competition scores. For such events, riders typically wear spurs, and special
flank straps are placed on the horses (and tightened immediately before entry
to the arena) to encourage bucking.

The term “bucking bronco” is also bandied about in to
describe a misbehaving horse after a particularly high-energy ride.

Thursday

My horse is sweet and basically gentle. One might say she
wouldn’t harm a fly. Well, that’s not exactly so. Lately, she’s been swishing her
tail and stomping her hooves, trying to fend off flies.

Yep, it’s fly season at the stables. And these nasty little
buzzers are back with a vengeance this year. Flies sort of put the proverbial
fly in the ointment, when it comes to working with horses in the great
outdoors.

Here’s a graphic I generated for a former client’s page. (I
no longer work with this client, and the image rights reverted to me, so I’m sharing
it on this site.)

And in the barn, more than one farrier or vet has been known
to fly into a rage after swatting a few dozen flies during a dainty procedure.

Plenty of equestrians don’t mind flying into the face of
danger. But a single fly in the face can change our whole demeanor, causing any
of us to fly off the handle. We’ll fly by the seats of our pants, but we will
nearly come unseated, if those giant B-52 bomber horseflies take bites of our
mounts.

Note: This post contains a hearty selection of Amazon product links (below), related to the topic at hand and offered for readers' convenience. This site is advertiser-supported and benefits from reader participation in such offerings. However, such interaction is wholly voluntary. Generally, I try not to overload posts with promotional links. Once in a while, however, they fit the bill quite nicely.

Yes, it’s time to
tell the filthy fly to go fly a kite.

What steps do you take to keep flies at bay, while you ride
your bay (or chestnut or white or gray or other colored horse)? Here are
several product options commonly chosen by equestrians to keep flies away. If
you’ve tried any of these, I’d appreciate your comments (below) on how well
they worked.

LinkWithin

25 Top Tips for Promoting Your Equestrian Event

Wondering how to promote your horse event or equine-related business? Here's a brand-new book with helpful, no-nonsense tips from a longtime PR professional. Great gift for barn managers, breed/discipline association leaders, trainers, horse show judges, event planners, tack sellers, or other horse pros. Amazon ships fast! Note: Horse industry professionals of any sort can likely claim the purchase as a business expense for tax purposes as well.

Humane options for dealing with a deceased horse's remains.

When the worst happens, what is a grieving horse owner to do? What are the options for dealing with the remains of a horse that has died? This little book presents practical options. Available in print and on Amazon Kindle.

Find my Kindle books on Amazon.

Amazon

“I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to participating Amazon sites.”

Follow The Mane Point on Facebook.

Fun at CafePress

Check out my NickerSnickers store on CafePress, with 100s of creative and comical designs available on countless gift and apparel items.

Horseplay Secrets: Learning in Rhyme from Equines Sublime

Not your everyday stuffy or sticky-sweet sentimental poetry: Horse lovers carry heart secrets that run deeper than others may ever understand. Our memories are filled with special equines with whom we have shared moments that marked our souls forever. If you love horses, you are probably already nodding your head. For horseplay is never just play – if we’re paying attention. Sweet secrets are there to be shared ...

About Me

Equestrian News Express

Brand Disclaimer

Reference herein to any specific books, commercial products, creative property titles, films, music, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee by this website or its publisher.

Blog rating

The Mane Point is rated . . .

A-Z Challenge Award

2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge

The Mane Point is pleased to participate again in the April A to Z Blogging Challenge.